The Kingdom of Bervund
The Kingdom of Bervund is a relatively recent creation, it was only in the beginning of this century that the duchies of the Bervund chose to organize beneath a single flag and kingship. Prior to that it had existed as a collection of smaller ducal realms the most powerful of which were Luthen, Carlissa, Silphern, and the Free City of Sapherstone. However, as Saxalia finally came to fully subjugate its realm, it became a necessity for the Bervundese to unify.
Culture
More than any other realm in the Hraldan, the Bervundians are united by their faith and the church.
Bervundians are known for their rustic, practical wisdom; the "man of the village" stock character of travelling theatre is often identified as a Bervundian. This character is often seen as speaking simple truths that defy the confounding complex lies of the elite. This culture infects even the nobility of Bervund, who are known to be more grounded and hardworking than most landed nobility.
History
Early History
Scholars believe that manfolk have inhabited the Bervundian plains since at least the early Giantsfall. The Great Stele of the Saphrenel appears to have been constructed (in its original form) by Mannishfolk far into the early history of man during the Giant's Reign.Military
Bervund like most of the Hraldan nations possesses only a small standing army of trained men-at-arms, called up from local militias and mercenary companies. These soldiers’ duties typically consist of patrolling the roads and borders, manning watchtowers and assisting in enforcing law and order.
Beyond this the local Lords usually maintain a small retinue of highly trained and armoured knights to provide immediate response to dangers affecting their fiefs such as wild beasts, bandits or monsters. Often these houseriders or Husridders as they are known to the Hraldans only consist of a small party of two to five.
However in times of war it is expected of every Bervundian Lord to arm and supply at least ten such trained riders, and for each of those riders to themselves (or through the lord for Husridders) further provide and furnish and additional ten footmen or men-at-arms. With the assumption that all lords answer their liege’s call. Bervund can field perhaps as much as 2000 riders and 20,000 footmen. Not including other mustered forces such as local militias, mercenaries, and lesser cavalry.
This number is roughly in line with their immediate neighbours, although noticeably less than their most immediate rival Saxalia. Further still Bervund’s wide dispersion of population and lack of infrastructure prevents it from effectively mustering these forces. In most conflicts it has faced Bervund has been forced to make due with less than a third of that number.
Bervund’s footmen also have developed a reputation for relatively poor equipment, due to their lack of major industrial centres and limited access to workable iron, Bervundian militias have been known to be sent to battle with little more modified field tools and hunting arrows. Though their nobility can easily afford high quality Reldish Steel for their arms and armour.
Agriculture & Industry
Bervund is a major agricultural producer in both the Hraldan Basin and throughout the entire Western Realm. Bervundian staple foods, vegetables and cattle are traded as far as the Argenian Empire and the Bay of Telmanth.
Industrially Bervund lags significantly behind even its Hraldan neighbours, while there is a solid trade in lumber and finished wood goods they have failed to make significant inroads beyond their domestic markets.
Bervundian smiths have a poor reputation, perhaps unearned given they often have to make the best of the poor quality marsh-iron that can be accessed domestically, as importing higher quality metals is often impossible. Yet it’s telling that any sensible nobleman that can afford to buys exclusively Reldish or Orenzian steel. And leaves the brittle Bervundian pig iron to those who don’t know better.
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Capital
Alternative Names
Bervund
Demonym
Bervundian
Government System
Oligarchy
Official State Religion
Official Languages
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Related Ethnicities
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